T-shaped concrete block



y 4, 1966 BUNKO SUZUKI 3,252,287

T-SHAPED CONCRETE BLOCK Filed Dec. 10, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l I N VE NTOR. Bun r0 JWz/K/ y 1956 1 BUNKO SUZUKI 3,252,287

T-SHAPED CONCRETE BLOCK Filed D60. 10, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR. 50mm Jazuk y 1966 BUNKO SUZUKI 3,252,287

T-SHAPED CONCRETE BLOCK Filed Dec. 10, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR-bumm S'uzuz United States Patent "ice 3,252,287 T-SHAPED CONCRETE BLOCKBunko Suzuki, 459 Banchi, Yukigaya-cho, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Japan Filed Dec.10, 1962, Ser. No. 243,425 Claims. (Cl. 615) This invention relates to aT-shaped concrete block having a great variety of use for public works,e.g. for building a breakwater and barrier structures for debris on theshores,-harbours and rivers and for a barrier for irregular surfaces,groundsill, foundation, river-bed and shore protection, and in one ofits aspects the invention relates more particularly to concrete blocksof the above character wherein the T-shaped block has at its centralportion a recess which is adapted to couple two blocks to form ahexapodal block. In another aspect, the invention relates to a concreteblock of the above character wherein each leglike part of the T-shapedblock is provided with an ellipselike opening which is adapted toconnect two or more blocks in several forms with a suitable coupling rodor the like coupling member. Further objects and advantages of theinvention will be in part obvious and in part specifically referred toin the description hereinafter contained which, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, discloses modifications which are merelyillustrative of the principle of the invention in its broader aspects.In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of one form of the T-shaped concrete blockembodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the operation of coupling twoblocks in the form of a hexapodal block;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the finished coupling of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing another type for connection of the blocks;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a still another type of connection;

FIG. 7 shows another adaptation of the blocks;

FIG. 8 shows a manner for joining the hexapodal blocks;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a modified form of the T- shaped block;

FIG. 10 is a transverse section taken on the line X-X of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 shows a modified form for coupling two blocks to form ahexapodal block.

As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the T-shaped concrete block of theinvention consists of a base part, the cross of the T, (referred ingeneral at 1) which comprises two leg parts 2 and 3 and a third leg part4 which extends at right angles to the center of the base part 1. Thebase part 1 has a recess 5 at the side opposite to the extension of thethird or central leg 4. The depth of the recess 5 is optional, but it ispreferred to have half a length of the width w of the base part 1, aswill be further described hereinafter. The length of each leg is alsooptional, but it is preferred to have the same length, in order toprovide multiuse block.

The base part 1 is provided at both of its leg parts 2 and 3 withellipselike openings 6 and 6', respectively. A similar opening 6" isprovided on the third leg 4. Further, the base part 1 is provided atboth of its side surfaces with V-shaped grooves 7, 7, which grooveextends from the center of base portion of the third leg 4 to thecorners of bottom of the recess 5. And also, the same contour of grooves8, 8 are provided at both the wall surfaces 9, 9 of the recess 5. Thegroove 8 extends from the central brim of the recess 5 to the corners ofbottom thereof, as

shown in FIG. 2.

3,252,287 Patented May 24, 1966 The T-shaped concrete block is thusconstructed and provided according to the invention, which is applicableto form easily a hexapodal concrete block as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,especially illustrated in FIG. 3. The first T-shaped block B is stood onits third leg 4 To this first block B ,-a second T-shaped block B isinlaid turning horizontally in such manner that the grooves 7 7 of thesecond block B face to the grooves 8 8 of the first block Brespectively. That is to say, a hexapodal block may be formed bypositioning a pair of similar blocks in opposing and transversepositions with the recess of each block receiving the reduced portion(produced by the recess) of the base of the other. When these two blocksare fitted within each other with their recesses 5 and 5 the angleportions 10, 10 of the V-shaped grooves 7, 7 are left opened at the sidesurfaces of the blocks. Then, the lower openings, i.e. the angleportions 10 10 of the grooves 7 7 of the first block B are closed with asuitable stopper 11, 11, respectively. Thus, liquid concrete, mortar orthe like adhesive material may be poured into the upper openings 10 10of the grooves 7 7 The liquid concrete passes through the groove channelof 7 and 8 then it flows into the groove channels 7 and 8 After settingof the concrete or mortar, the hexapodal block is ready for use. Whenthe coupling of two similar blocks B and B is complete, the leg-likeparts 2, 2, 3 and 3 are positioned in the same plane since the depth ofeach recess 5 is half the width of said legs.

FIG. 5 illustrates the manner in which two or more blocks are connectedin parallel with coupling rods 15, 15. It should be noted that eachblock has ellipselike openings 6 and 6', respectively. So that when theblocks are connected by the coupling rods 15, 15, the rods do notcompletely fix the position ofthe blocks 'with respect to each other.That is to say, the blocks can adjust to sit well on the ground surfaceeven if it is rough and if the ground has subsided. This connection hasan advantage for use on an irregular or curved surface. The thirdopening 6" of each block serves to control or restrict the water flow.

FIG. 6 illustrates the manner in which many. blocks are laid down on thebottom of the sea, such as for use as a breakwater, river-bed structure,etc. These blocks are connected to one another with concrete piles 16,16 so as to form layers of the woven T-shaped concrete blocks. Thelayers of the blocks are piled up from the bottom of the sea to asuitable height above the sea-level. Then the lower layer serves to bethe foundation of the breakwater. That is to say, if the breakwater isbuilt up with these blocks, no rubble mound is required. And also, itshould be noted that this breakwater has many complex open spaces orinterstices in its structure. Therefore, the wave energy is diminishedwhen the water passes through the porous structure. Moreover, the waveenergy does not act directly onthe structure, because the structure hasmany spaces. Conventional breakwaters are apt to be eroded by the waveenergy which is directed toward the foot of the breakwater. This is dueto the fact that the conventional breakwater consists of a concretemass, so that the downwardly directed water flow digs out the foot ofthe structure. In FIG. 6, the arrows show diagrammatically how the waterflow, or wave energy is deflected and diminished when it passes throughthe breakwater of the invention. The uppermost layer of the woven blocksmay be paved for the use as a road.

FIG. 7 illustrates the manner in which many blocks are piled up along aprecipice. In this adaptation, the third leg 4 of the T-shaped blockencroaches on the precipice so as to hold the block itself steadythereat. The recess 5 of the lowermost block may serve as a waterway.

FIG. 8 illustrates a manner for joining two or more 3 hexapodal blocks.A chain 17 or a wire 18 is available to join the blocks with theiropenings 6, 6 and 6".

In FIGS. 9 and 10 I have shown a somewhat modified form of the inventionwhere-in the elements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 6", may be understood asbeing the same as previously described, in construction and mode ofoperation. It only differs from the first form shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 bythe fact that the grooves 7 and 8 of this second form is lodged directlyparallel to the base part 1. This second form of construction has someadvantage that the manufacturing of such the straight grooves iseffected more simple as compared with the former V-shaped groove.

In FIG. 11 I have shown a still another means for producing the jointbetween two blocks in the form of the hexapodal block. The first block Bin this form has a bolt 21, the lower end of which is embedded and fixedto the bottom of the recess 5. The second block B is provided with ahole 22 through which the bolt 21 extends. The tip end portion of thebolt 21 has a screw thread and projects into a side wall of the opening6". After fitting these two blocks with their recesses, the bolt 21 isfastened with a nut 23, then mortar 24 is applied thereto in order togive watertightness.

I claim:

1. T-shaped concrete blocks comprising a base portion of square crosssection comprising the cross of the T and forming first and second legs,a third leg of square cross section forming the staif of the T, saidbase portion having a rectangular recess extending inwardly from thesurface opposite said third leg and being substantially in alignmentwith said third leg, the breadth of said recess between the first andsecond legs being substantially equal to a side of the cross sectionsquare of said base, the first and second legs measured from the edgesof said recess being substantially equal in length to the length of saidthird leg, the depth of said recess being equal approximately half ofthe side of said square legs, each of a plurality of said legs having anopening of elliptical cross section therein.

2. A pair of interfitted T-shaped concrete blocks each of said blockscomprising a base portion of square cross section comprising the crossof the T and forming first and second legs, a third leg of square crosssection forming the staif of the T, said base portion having arectangular recess extending inwardly from the surface opposite saidthird leg and being substantially in alignment with said third leg toprovide a reduced portion in the base adjacent said third leg, thebreadth of said recess between the first and second legs beingsubstantially equal to a side of the cross sectional square of saidbase, the first and second legs measured from the edges of said recessbeing substantially equal in length to the length of said third leg, thedepth ofsaid recess being equal to approximately half of said squarelegs, said pair of blocks being secured together with the third legsthereof extending in opposite directions and the bases being at to eachother so that the recess of the first block overlaps said reducedportion of the second block to provide a hexapodal pair of blocks.

3. The pair of interfitted concrete blocks as defined in claim 2,comprising means on a plurality of contacting walls of said pair ofblocks to secure the blocks together.

4. The pair of blocks as defined in claim 2, wherein each of a pluralityof said legs of said hexapodal pair of blocks contains an opening ofelliptical cross section.

5. The pair of blocks as defined in claim 3, wherein the side walls ofsaid recesses and the said walls of the reduced region of said blockscontain matching grooves, a portion of the groove of the reduced regionof said blocks extending into a portion of the third leg whereby saidgrooves may be filled with cementing material after the blocks arefitted together.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 457,371 8/1891Ross 94-11 X 2,191,924 2/ 1940 Humphrey 614 2,474,786 6/ 1949 Humphrey614 FOREIGN PATENTS 90,840 7/ 1961 Denmark. 901,389 6/1954 Germany.30,432 2/1920 Norway.

CHARLES E. OC-ONNELL, Primary Examiner.

JACOB SHAPIRO, EARL J. WITMER, Examiners.

1. T-SHAPED CONCRETE BLOCKS COMPRISING A BASE PORTION OF SQUARE CROSSSECTION COMPRISING THE CROSS OF THE T AND FORMING FIRST AND SECOND LEGS,A THIRD LEG OF SQUARE CROSS SECTION FORMING THE STAFF OF THE T, SAIDBASE PORTION HAVING A RECTANGULAR RECESS EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM THESURFACE OPPOSITE SAID THIRD LEG AND BEING SUBSTANTIALLY IN ALIGNMENTWITH SAID THIRD LEG, THE BREADTH OF SAID RECESS BETWEEN THE FIRST ANDSECOND LEGS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO A SIDE OF THE CROSS SECTIONSQUARE OF SAID BASE, THE FIRST AND SECOND LEGS MEASURED FROM THE EDGESOF SAID RECESS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL IN LENGTH TO THE LENGTH OF SAIDTHIRD LEG, THE DEPTH OF SAID RECESS BEING EQUAL APPROXIMATELY HALF OFTHE SIDE OF SAID SQUARE LEGS, EACH OF A PLURALITY OF SAID LEGS HAVING ANOPENING OF ELLIPTICAL CROSS SECTION THEREIN.